Contbolleb pob postage-meter machines and the like



BEST AVNLABLE com Nov. 17,1925- 1,561,795

A. H. PrrNl-:Y

CONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND TEE LIKE Filed Got. y19:23 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Figi '31@31 32a 0290 a9 la71 5-25`52 51h ss an 5 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 @A @d w H BEST AVALABLE COPX A. H. PITNEY Filed oci. 2, 192s NOV. 17, 1925 CQNTROLLBR FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

mm wm BEST AVNUBLE COPX Nov. 17', 1925. 1,561,795

A. H. PITNEY CONTRGLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed OC. f3, 1923 7 SheetS-Shf 3 wir? MII ily'v BEST AVALBLE COPX NGV 17, A. H. PITNEY CONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed 0012. 2, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet Fig 9.

gn umvfoz l EEST VMLABLE COPE Nov. 17 1925. i,561,795

A. H. PITNEY CONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Vigie.

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Nov. 17Y 1925 A. H. PITNEY EONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES. D THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1923 BEST AVNLABLE COPY Nov. 17, i925 1,561,795

A. H. PTNEY CONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1923 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Nov. 17, 19275.

, uNiTED STATES.

,PATENT orricr..

ARTHUR H. PITNEIY, OF STANFORD, CONNECTICU'T, ASSIGNOR, BY 'MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO PITNEY-BOWES POSTAGE METER, COMPANY, OF STANFORD, CONNECTI- our, .e CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

CONTROLLER FOR POSTAGE-METER MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

appiicatiqn aies october' 2, i923.` sriai No. 666,113.

To all whom z'trmay ckmccm:

B'it knownithat I, ARTHUR H..P1TNEY, citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the'cOu-nty of 'Fairlicld a-nd State of Connecticut, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in .Controlv1ers for Postage-Meter Machines and the like; and-I hereby declare lthat the followpanying determined niii'nber'of Operations and to be automatically rendered incapable of pci'- forming further operations until reset: such for example as machine'for printing postage stamps on so-called prepaid mail, for printing vouchers, tickets etc. The invention is designed for use in connection with machines for printing stamps or indicia on mail mattei' to do away with the necessity of applying the ordinary adhesive stamps thereto or using the ordinary stamped envelopes.

More specifically the invention is an impi-oveinent on my so-called postage meter Yters Patent #1,370,668

machines, such as disclosed in U. S. Letgi-anted to me March 8, 1921. The aforesaid patented machine is provided with a so-called removable meter which contains registering mechanism and automatic controlling devices whereby when a predetermined amount of'postage has been printed the meter e becomes locked, and `whereby further eiiec- .tive operations of the printing mechanism is prevented until the meter is reset. Also iii my said patent the meter ismade bodily removable. from the machine so that it can he-taken to the post-ottico and reset', mechanism is provided whereby no eii'e'ctive print` iiigf'operations can be pertormed by the inachine when the meter is removed therefrom,

' norvuntil the meter is properly reset and replaced inthe inachine.

The principal object of the present invention is to do away with the necessity of having the meter removable as a Whole, or having the registering mechanism or printing mechanism, or .parts ot both removable from the machine; andinst'ead to provide a Very simple novel controller for siich machine, lwhich controller is very compact and is iiisertable in or removable from the meter or machine on which it is used, and when in place will permit the Operations of the eEsravAii/ieis cona 1,561,795

meter or register to reach a pre-determined number and then cause the tripping of certain mechanisms-. whereby' further printing operations of the machine or of the meter 'are prevented until the controller is removed andre-set. Means are also provided vWhere- `by when the controller isremoved from 4the meter the latter cannot be operated nor can the machine be'operated or the registering 'mechanism until thel controller` is re-set and from and inserted in the machine; and

Wlieirin lace will permit ettective operations of t ie machine -uiitilv a pre-determined number of operations have Vbeen performed and when removed will release locking devices which will preventeiective Operation of the` meter or ii'iachine; said controller can be made very small and compact; and can bemuch more readily carried ,about than the detachable meters used on my said patented-machine, and the locking and con; trolling devices are inaccessible,-.. even when the controller is removed from the machine. Said controller does not contain registering mechanisms but does contain devices which can be set to determine and limit the number ot operations which may be performed by the machine; and also contains devices which when the controller is inserted in the machine co-operate `with devices in the niachine'to render the latter operable (while the controller is in the machine) until the number of operations for which the con- Atroller has been set have been erformed' P a then the controller releases locking devices which permit further effective operations until the controller is removed, re-set and trolling mechanisms .securely combi-ned. and

contained within asmall casing, and inacoffthefconti'oller With-the cover removed.. 'i130' Fig.`6'i`is a 'seetionalview of the' controller wasing showing the. interior parts in eleva` BEST AiffnlaeLE coe- -lated tofdevices in themachine that when the controller is removed 'from the machine the latterl cannot bei effectively operated? The controller is sojsmal1 and c on'ipact` that 1Q is can be readily 'carriedi'n the hand,vo r' in the pocket and much smaller andz simplex-1 than the meter r in 'myv said patented A 'machine.- Further thecontrollers'o constructed thatnone of its mechanismsgwill be 15 acees'sible'from the outsid'e5 therefore-item1- "epf 'by '8.11111 authom Pemba-having' 'the offacilitatefan.

unde

embodiment of: the invention "designed for 'connection'v'with' Laf postage meter-j i machine' substantially :as shownl and dey f') -troller beinhown as inserted inav meter which."ean-l -lsnbstituted in 'said patented l-l'naohine in place ofthe meter therein described; but it 'should be distinctlyV understoodlthatthe removability of thewimeter '3'3 itselfis not a feature of the present invention;` and-in the'pesent invention-the 'meter can be madevan. integral or*'iseparable-l n `wi l l, jenable others to' "fnnderstand d adapt thesame-to other machines. The

ventionf is; not restricted to the particular construction `or application of theinvention gi-llstrated in said drawings, and therefore .#'I'refer to the claims for summariesof the essentials' of the' invention and novel Afeaturesof "construction, and novel combi- 4 Vnat'ifonmof parts, vforall of which protecf r meter v.fmach'ine as shown in-my a oresaid patentgwith 'the' meter .and 'controller rapon isdesired. lIn said drawings;

liaracte'of that describedlinjmy tofsho linterior "construction, and the `and`. front of the meter. casing atl the 'hase'.fe' t'jaway F iis a section onthc pug.' 5 is a front view '--tion. Fig. 7 is a side view of theinterior l mechanism ofi the' controller .removed from the Casin Fio. 8 is a similar view hnt re? a corresponding socket I-'lock' 13.; v Fig. 21 is-a detail section through not'gibel tamperedfwitlilndfcannot tbe rezset,

' plan view 'ora-postage meter machinevvith the controllerf applied thereto. 'riding 'fof the 20 'invention I haveiillustrated one practical llisrering the same therefrom; which mechl jmachine, orfcoul to -such mach1ne; for 1n the present inventhe meter shown in Fig. 1, partly in section'j` as in place in thefmeter. Fig. 19 isa face view of 'disk 205?? Fig; 20 is a section throughj the dustfguard vand housing for Si) the charginginecliimism.Y F 22 isa top inthe accompanyingdrawings I have s own' thecontroller'asapplied to, one of the .meters fof my lso -call`ed postage' meter machines -such meter beingv adapted to be substituted insuch-machine for the meter shown in my Patent :tl:l,3 "l'0,6 68 dated March'Sg, 1921, and lfreferfothersto that patent. for a general explanation of the .constructionand operation of the printing I mechanisnn: the means for v*feeding .the en-` velopes-"to the printing' mechanism and devanislns formno part of thepresent invention. l'.lhe'-r1ieter shown in the drawings- 'may bereinovabl lfitted into said patented d' be permanently attached l0!) v-tion1it-is. not necessary for" the meter tobe bodily removable vasin said patented machine. .The -meter ormachine conta il$..tl l'e 'printing die', -and registers bj' which 'theefu number of'imprc'ssions given oli by thedie, 105 'or the number of revolutions of th'edc arelreg'istered, and' in the example shown the meter yis `made detachable from the machine-as' a mere matter of convenience.

In Fig..22 I have'illustrated the )ostage 110 pliedtlleretoinplaceoff-the meter described achine v-'lhfeigenvelopes are vfed table' rollers'B,"B 'pa-st the 115 ''sealingdevicev C'fbetween forwarding roll-4 ers',V D', 'D' and SE, E, ton andiV between the printing roller'or die 3 Yon the meterand an impression rollen-F, Aand afterbei printed L are Jdieciiargjifed'i between' rollers ,eligabgea trip fingerl'whch controls 'meeham'smkwhereb'y the yprinter spindle '3Q-is,operated@'1 j The construction andoperation of (he parts. referred to' by -reference letters isi f ully .set'fortlr in my Patent #1g-f7 (ry'" and thereorefdoes not require any mor dei` tailed explanation j hierein. as the particular' 3U construction of the letter feeding, forwarding, printing and delivery devices, and the trip mechanism for controlling the operation thereof, are pot features of the present invention, and l are not specifically claimed herein; but are briefly described and illustrated to show' the application of fthe invention Yto one practical machine.

The frieten Y 'In the construction shown the meter coina. baseA 1, .containing the various tripping -and locking-devices hereinafter referred to u onwhich is mounted a bracket f1* having an overhead arm lb in which is journaled the upper end of a shaft 2l the lower end of which is journaled in the base.-

This shaft-carriestheprinting member or "ceptibn of the removable controller, .shown tliiscase 2 has two glazed openings die 3', and an idler roller 4.

Acasing 2; fastened to the base 1, encloscs the registers 35 and 34 (Figs-3' and and'devices'iwh'ich coact with devices inTtlie iis 2- and 2b in its top adjacent the registerand a large circular opening in its front side, which opening is the mouth of the controller socket2 from which the controller (in the construction shown) protrudes when in ithe' casing is completely closed and place inthe meter. lThe casing lso has :a

smaller'opening 2* in its front id throu h whiclifa. key may beentered tq" .clear t e .fset back counter 35. vThere are no openmgS-neitlier of the sidewalls of casing 2.

The base 1 with its verticalwall 1 closes the bottom and rearof the casing so thatv with the exception of the controller socket all the interior mechanisms.

i The hollow bottom of base 1 is closed by a "cap, 5 (through which the bottom of die shaft 3*, protrudes), and by a sliding plate '6, which covers all other fastenings in the meter-and isitsellf fastened by inaccessible means '-f. i. as shown in my aforesaid patent.

The socket in t'li'emeter for the controller is formed ,in ,two members 7 and 8 (Fig. 2) flanged and `fastened together with-screws, as shownA iid providedwith lugs on'their 4lower sides secured by screws (as indicated in Fig. 2) to the base 1. ',l`lie outer member 7 has a cylindric interior forming part of the socket; and the inner member S has a cylindric interior, of same diameter as the correspondingr portion of member .7 but has two'interior flat segmental surfaces 8, 8f to conform to the shape of the controller -c'asingandinsureaccurate positioning of the controller inthe socket. The .rear end of the controllersocket is closed by a plate 9 fastened by screws to a'nges on the meinprotects BESTAVLBE COPi Within the casing 2 and securely attached to the plate 9 by bolts or screws is a plate 10 spaced from the plate 9 by studs 9*, In the space between plates 9 and 10 are placed gears operating a disk 11,-a key spindle 12 and the plug 13 of a lock 13. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The keyspindle 12 extends through the plate 9 Fig. 2, into the controller socket and has firmly attached to its end a-ly 121. The lock 13 is secured to the plate 9 and i'ojects into the 'controller socket; and the o'ck Afastenings are only .accessible from back of plate 9, so that the lock cannot :be detached from the outside or through the'controller The disk 11 is secured to a shaft 11", journtzled in the plates 9 and 10 adjacent the key spindle 12zaud lock 13. Shaftllh carries a.

pinion 57 by which'it is rotated has hereinafter 'explained The disk 11 carries two projecting pins 11* which are adapted to en- 'andV operate the controller mechanism, as iereinafter desibed, when the'eontrollcr is inserted in the controller socket.

On the lock plug 13* is a gear 14 which meshes with -a similar gear 15 on the key spindle l2, 'so that if the key spindle 12 is turned the.l lock plug would be similarly turned, and =vice versa; these gears being disposed between the plates -9 and 10 (sce Figs. 2 and 4). Preferably one tooth spacel of gear 14 1 5, (or of both) is left uncut, soI that neit rthe lock spindle nor lock plug lcan be turned a complete revolution, thus `with the magazine d rive and the two coun- "ters is shown -in Figs. 3, 4 and 15.

shown a ear keyed to die shaft 3? drives gear 52'tirou'gh) an intermediate 51. Gear 52 is secured to the lowci` end of a stub shaft 52 journaledin the top of thebase; and a gear 53 secured to the upper end of a shaft 52a meshes with a pinion 54 on a shaft 54 vertically disposed between the plates 9 and 1(). l(ln sha-ft, 54 is a'worin 54? which drives gear '57 on`shaft 11"; and on shaft 5 4 above' worm 54" is a worm 54c which drives i'egis- 'ter 35 by `gears 55and 56, and also drives register 34 by gears and 5G (seczlfig. 4).

The gear ratio is vsuch that one revolution of the die spindle 3 will cause the register drive gears 5G, 563. to make 5 revolution and the registers to register one each; and the gear 5T will be revolved a distance equal to ler; (as hereinafter described) said gear 57 driving disk 11 Fig. 3, which drives the said die, 3, are designed to be operative only at such times as a zcontroller is fitted into the aforesaid controller' socket in casing ,2 and ion 'one point of the charge disks in the controlesst avait/:iste com properly secured therein; otherwise no printingor registering can bedone.

The controller. i

rThe controller comprises -charging "pr-sets devices; a lock, and a' key, contained in 'asealed'case fxvvhiehil isdesi'gned to' tit into' .Tliegear connections areegactlysimilar to thosejused 1n the well F fis-.'55 jtoj14-thefjcontroller spaced distance 'pieces 204 and together? lby-"screws, said frarne'..ea:trying` 'the= operative parts 'foi the llerfeonsist of'a. series of v l8)' fmounted between d204z'on a spindle 205".

hrouglisuitalile gear (sefrigs. t and a) Limenageared typ of counter, and in brief comprises an intermittent gear 205d :secured disk 20.

`to the'side vof disk 205 and at every revolution of suehdisk engages and advances a related pinion 207 one point, each pinion 20?'. being loosely mounted on a spindle 20T", parallelto the spindle 205 supporting the Each pinion 207 meshes with a spur gear 20 secured to the side ofthe 'adjacent and when gear 2,05'a is movedl one ,I point 'i5 ymoves the'related disk' 205 one point. Each disk 205l of higher denomination-'also has an intermittent gear205d'secured'to' its other side which will, as each eoinplete`revolution 'of such disk, advance a related .pinion 20T-on spindle 207'* one point.; and this pinion' 207 will ina similar A inanner'eonnnunieate n iotio'n to the next disk 205'1of higher denomination, and -so through theseries. AThe disk 205IJ of highest denomination is shown vas substantially thickerl tha-n the'oi'lier disks, and it'has a 4series of radial slots 205e in its side adjacent the frame plate 204. .L i

A disk203 is fastened to spindle 205s at the outer side of the plate. 204. and 'this disk has a reduced hub portion 20Sn which is adapted to pro 'udethrough the wall of the cese 200 (see ig. `11) and engage with the;

pins-l1 on the disk- 11 whewthecontroller is inserted in, the socket. so that the vspindle l205""and disk 205 will be. rotated one point.

for each revolutionhof the die. This nievenient lrzmslnittedpoint ln' point through the -series in' disks 205'. 2 05", 20W- until the last disk 305 is moved one point. the nunilwr of operations of'die 'lieoessary to efl'eet'this movement of disk 205b depends upon the *alienate-fier Printfwithinfwhih is -afv pees 1204.

'of theseriesfof vdisks 205 is se-- disks l(205, 20`l5cf v'a1'1eflgwsely mounted indie Aand A,they are' operated by and This cani lever 211 is piroted on a frame mounted on the 'spindle'- 205 betweenfthe frames 204 and4 204, said. shutter being preferably' cylindrical in -shape and having a radial hole- 209' 30 for a purpose hereinafter explained; and a longitudinal slot toaccommodate a bar 214 (Figs. 5V and 8) which slides reelyin the slot and extends through slots in both frame plates 204 and 204. One end of said bar 214 is adapted to be engaged with one of the radial slots 205e in disk 205b and itslother end Yis provided* with a projecting spur 214'* l'hatLengages a cani slot 210a in: a'cam 210,

. looselymou-nted lon the spindle 205s exterior 99 toplate 204b.jl When the cam is turned the Cain groove 210 engaging the spur 214'l on bar 214 will-cause thel bar 214 to slide back and forth in its slot in the shutter 209.

' lhe slots in both plates 204 and 204h 95 through which the'bar 214 passes are sulfieientlylong to allow the bar 214 to be'moved laterally by the disk 205b a distance. of one point., which is equal to that between the center of adjacentslots 205 in disk 2.05", and. m" one of' whose slots 205e is normally engaged by the bar 214. And when'bar 214 is thus moved by disk 205 the shutter 209'will also be moved by the bar a. distanee ofone point.

The cam 210 is revolved byineans of a lock 105 2 12 (Figs. 13; 14) as hereinafter described.

This reciprocal movement ot the bar 214-A serves tofirst disengage it from the slot .2053 of disk-'205h and then return it;.and it is nece' essary to partly rotate shutter 200 in order that the har`214 on its return mayY` engage theinext adjacent 'slot'205 For this pur pose cam lever 211 is placed between 'raul 210 and the plate 204b (Figs. 5, and 8).'

204b at 211, and extends under eani 2l() and has an irregularopening 2lUsui-rounding A the spindle 205s and the free end has a lug,r 211r that touches the bar 2H.' 'l'he am lever 211 is intermittently oseillated on its pivot 211 h v means ot' alugr 210. which projects from the adjacent side ot' eejmifil'i and comes in c'ontart with projerlious li'lf und 211 in the irregular openinL 2l ll. l' i 'ihe socket 200 in the cjclindriral.surfaee oishutter 200 is adapted to register .'wit-h a hoh: 200b in the controller ease 200 (15h59) whenever the bar 214 is inox-ml liv disk 203 to the, position illustrated in When the bur 214 lifted out oi' engagement with 139 6 the case 200 is bored to accommodate the ,20Gb in case 200.

essi Aven/iste comr the slot 205 (which it then occupies) and shifted as described so that it will engage the next'slot 205c to the left; the shutter 9 'will also beshifted with it. and vthe socket 209 will be moved out ofregister with the hole This shifting of shutter 209 to open'orclose the aperture 200b c ontrols the .locking of the' die in the meter as hereinafter ldescribed.

lrVhen -thel shutter 209 is rocked to a position in which the socket 2091 will be out of.

line with the hole 200", each operation ofthe die imparts motion to the disk 205 as described, and after a definite number of operations the disk 205h will be shifted one point and by reasonvvot the engagement of the bar 2 14 with both disk 205b and Shutter 209 it; also will -be turned one point, or in other words restored to the position in which the socketv209a again registers with the hole 2001. lVhen Y in this position the die will be locked and the controller is then said to be discharged, i.'.e., it has allowed the die to be revolvedthefull number of times, represented by the numbers of points necessaryjto' transfer the motion of the first disk 205 to the last disk 205b of the series.

The means for resetting or charging of the cont-roller is guarded by a lock, hereinafter described, secured within 'the controller, but adapted to be turned by means of a" key inserted rom the outside of the casing. A -swingable guard 200u is attached to plate 200 to cover. Jthe key hole, and is seemed in place by a'. 'lead seal 200|. This lock and seal prevent unauthorizedmaniluilations of the controller.

To further prevent tampering with the I' controller the entire mechanism of-the conclose on .the bottom or .inner end of the A Plates- 204 and.204fa are shaped to lit the conf trollcr is enclosed in a case'2'00, and this care is closed in suclr a way that it cannot he opened without destroying a partof. it, thereby leaving plain evidence of -its having been tampered with. As shown in F ig.

parts inserted therein, Lthe, plate 204 abuts tour of the reduced part ofthe bore of thc case, 200; and :plate 204 is larger and, fits the larger part of the bore, and is fastened by screws to a shoulder inthe case 200, as shown iu Fig. 5. ca'p 201, Figs. 5, 12

und 14, closes the open end of case 200, and is provided with l11gs'201L'which space it' from plate 204?, and it is Aheld in proper.

position in the mouth of the opening 'by l screws 201s passed through lugs 201'and pluie 208 and tapped luto the shoulder of the case 200. On the outer face of cap 201 is a projecting rib. 201b which is drilled through; and in the ends of the hole therein are placed slidable'pins 203 and a spring 203 between them forces them outwardly.

A circular cover plate 203 is placed over :groove 210 holds it there.

the cap 201 and has a fla-nge on itsperiphery with its edge turned in as shown in Fig. 5. This flange tits inside the rim of the case 200,-on the machined edge of the `cap 201, and its inturned edge is engaged by the pins 203 (forced out by the spring 203), and the cover 202 is thus held securely in place. s the pins 2.03 are inarcessible when the cover 202 is in place there is no way to remove the cover or release its fastenings exceptby breaking or drilling it.

' A lock 212 (Fig. 14) is fastened to the inside of the cap 201, in such position that when the controller is in place thelcenter of the plug 212*l of said lock is'directly in line with lthe center of the spindle 205 carrying the disks 205and shutter 209. The plug 212a of lock 212 extends through holes in both cap 201 and cover 202 where it is accessible for the purpose of inserting the key' (see Figs. 10 and 12). The inner end of plug 212a is provided -with a plate 212b having arms 212 and when the parts are propi erly assembled said' arms engage the four pins 210c of cam 210 (Figs. 5 and 7) and will cause the cam to turn with the plug.

Resettz'ng the controller.

bined action of the two cams 210 and 211 is as follows; Cain 210 in "turning a little .in execess of 1A revolution will withdraw bar 214 from disk 205" .because the cam .groove 2l0-during this fraction of a .turn leads away from frame 204". At this point there is a dwelllf in the lead of the 'groovel 210, and while thespur 214:a is traversing this dwell the. projection 210d on the under l side of cam' 210 strikes the shoulder 211" in the opening of cam 211, yforcing it to swing to the left, and the extreme free end of cam 211 will carry 'the bar 214 to the left; it will then be in a position opposite [the slot 205 next adjoining the one it previously engaged. will have pushed cam 211 clear of' its path and there will be no further movement of cam l211. The dwell in the groove 210 termina-tes at this point, and the groove be- `gins to lead back towards the {ra-me 204",

and this will move the har 214 inward into engagement with the next slot 205 and when so engaged a. second dwell in the During this second' dwell the lug 210d in completing its ies'olution comes into contact with the secondshoulder 211d and returns cam 211 to its original position (as shown in Figure 8) with the lugs 210d standing where it will (provcnt further movement ot the cam 211.

A se''ifond turn of the cam after the fore- At this time the lug 210d i BEST/ava going operation has'been completed would have no effect Whatever on the charging its only effect would beto slide the bar 211 back and forth without changing thej posi- 'tion of the shutter 209. To prevent any rey between frames'204- and 204, and is fastened A. rectangular bolt 7215 isI mounted to' slide linfa "f guide 1 c lla'imel-` inf an l'extended -.poi-sion 215;:

` throughframe .204 and' engages one of .the

to .frame 20a;l and its .plug 215* rejects thrugh `frame 204;V into a hole in t e rear wall of thelcontroller case, through vwhich.

hole the' key. may' be inserted.

slots208b .machinedinthe rim of the disk 20S-on spindle 2051A A cam 216 is secured to spindle. 217l adjacent. lock 2 15and has`a 39 'worm groove 216* out in its surface,' and this 'groove 216 .i sengaged by a spur 215'on the end of bolt 215- and when the cam *,is turned thebolt is projectedor retracted ',andoprates the bolt.- This cam is operj" ated by means of a carrier plate 215b on theA inner 'and of the plug 215, -said -carrier its out (Figs. 2 and 7).

plate 215b being similar to the carrier plate 212" on lock 212, Fig. .13, vcarrier plate.

215" enga v.pins 216 projecting from the.

hub ot t e= cam 216. The hub 216b of cam 216 bears in a hole in frame 204* and holds the cam in '.correct alignmentwith the 1Ock215-gw f-, s indle- 217, (Figs.f5f and 7) ,passes throng p1ate204", capg201 and cover =202, and is ade fast to thelhub 216? of cam 216. This s indle may be manually turned by means of aknurled knob 219Il fastened to r end. If itwere not fr Athe lock 215, aturn of the knob 219l `iiould cause the cam 216 to shift the bolt 215% J When the proper( key is inserted in the lock 215 to release; the tumblers, its spindle 215 can be tu'rnedfeither by the knob 219a or the key.

Another spindle 220, arranged parallel to spindle 217, passes through the cap of the magazine case and the frame 204, and has a lmurled knob 219, on its outer end; and secured to its inner end is a key 220*l (Fig. 7 designed to fit the lock 13 contained Within the controller socket` in the meter A spur gear Wheel 218 on spindle meshes with a similar gear 218? on spindle 217 g and the hubs of said gears, tting tween the plate 204b and cap 201, take the axial thrust in both directions. Both spindles being geared together neither can be turned 'without turning -the other. Preferably one toothspace is left uncut in one or both of the gears 218, 218i, to limit the extent of rotative movement of the two .spindles to something less than :a complete y revolution.

The lock 13 in the meter, is to be unlocked by the key 220avon spindle 220; v-and'said lock will enter the controller casing throughan opening 200c therein (Fig. 11) Wheneverl the controller is put in .place inthe meter. To prevent tampering or the entry of dust or other foreign substances through this hole 200, a cylindric housing 222 is provided for the lock Within the controller (see .Fig 6)' and a dust guard 223` (Fig. 11)

fastened to the end of a tubel 223, which slides within the housing 222, closes the hole 200` -whenthe controlleris withdrawn. #A

7 revoluble disk 223J in"the dust guard 2232 is provided With'a liolefor the passage of key 220,' and allows the -ke'y to be turned in the lock.4 The vtelescoping tube' 223 has a flange 223c on its inner end and isnormally held in by springs 223 in such position-that the dust guard '223a will be at the extreme end of the housing222l. p The key 220a in "the controller is adapted to engage lock 13 of themeter'mechanisxn;

and the key 12;in the' meter is adapted'tengagethe'vcontroller lock215 and it isfth'ef proper interengagement and operatiogo these looks and keys (which can only take place -when the 'controller is properly seated in its socket in the meter) that renders the mechanisms capable of effective operation.

The look 13, the Akey 12'l and the twoc caliv i rier'pins 119, Ixa'll'enter the controllergjv'fhen the latter is' entered into place'infit's socket in the meter. The `two hat segmentallfportions 8-^and 8b in thee-freer section of the socket fit lto similar 'Batt-cned segmental tions 8,.8bx on the rearjend of themen; troller case (Fig. 9) and insnrethat thecow troller is correctly positiou'ed'- in the-socket. The key-12 being fitted to' the lock `215 ot' the controller and the key 220a of the controller heingtittedto ,the lock 1li-of the meter, the tumblers bf neither lock will oii'er any resistance to the turning of the 'knobs 219. 219BL when the controller is properly placed in the mieter.1 But Jneither th(` meter lock nor the controller lock can he operated' separately.

Tle prin-ter ma? registerlockingde/vices. The-,action of the-clutch (not shown) which"operates the d ieshat 3 is controlled zby-a slidable pin 1 9s has been described my'foresaid patent, (Figs. 2, 15 and 16)- 'which is movedto enter a hole 1c in the buse .of the meter each Atime a; letter passes E STAVA through the postage meter machine; and if it' is prevented from so entering` the clutch cannot operate and revolve the die. Therefore suitable locking means are provided.

'whenever the controller, when in osition in the machine becomes exhauste or discharged.

As shown a bell crank shutter lever. is pivoted on a stud and has a long arm 20 extending tothe rear wall of the hollow base 1 where it is provided with an'enlarged head the face of which isconcentric with the pivot 20", andthe opposed face of the wall of the base I is concaved to allow free oscillating movement "of such head.. In head 20is a hole or socket 20b which registers withthe hole 1 in the end Wall of the base duringthenormal'operatidn vofthe machine, to permitthe entry of meter pin19.'

The shorter arm 20e of the shutter leveris pulled by a spring 20 against the arm 21* of a lock lever 21, the position of the arm 21l governing the 'postion of the shutter lever arm`20.,` l' 'j The lock lever 21is pivoted on a stud 21d inthe base of the meter and is designed .to berockect into the path vof a projection on a cam 51, secured tothe adjacent gear 51. This cam 51".has exactly the same con-l tour' as the cam 51l att-ached to the opposite side of said gear (seeFigs: '15 and 16)`. Cam 5.1a is shown in elevation i-n Fig. 2, but is'hidden'in lioth Figs. 15 and 16, but is of the same shape asA cam 51. Thelocklever arm 21" extends fon theside of the pivot.

21d opposite cam' 51, and: to arm 21* is `fastenedpa spring 21, and one end of a link 24, which control its movements. The

' link 24 attached at'it's-other end to an' arm 22 secured to the lower end of a vertical spi-niile 22I (Figs. 3, 15 and 16) which in alignment with the spindle 22d. 'Attached to trip lever 23 is a curved finger` 23* bent on an :Irc whose center 1s the center line of the pivotal screw 23b and'spindle 22", and

of the shutter 209.

free end is adapted to enter a holel'l in the member? (Fig. 2).

The link 2 1 connecting the lock lever arm 21 with the trip lever arm 22 conveys the pull of the spring 21 to arm 22 spindle 22",'v bracket 23, and finally to the tingen 23,", and

urges it to enter the hole-200 initheeonltrollerfcascwhich it will do when the lsocket 209 of the shutter 209 is in 4line,ofjf."

'meter the hole 200b (Fig. 9) in cas'e200 will register with the hole controller jis in' member- 7, vmidi the socket 2 09 of the shutter 209 whenever? thel controller is discharged,v thereforiwhen the controller is in place in themetferff .and it is discharged, the vtrip finger-"232' will enter the socket 209' i-n shutter'209t t 1 hnt if and while the controller is chargedl the finger 23 will merely rest on the The position of the linger 23 governsthe position of the lock lever. 21, and as locks.

lever 21 governsthe position ,of the shutteif.

'lever 20,'l the trip ,finger controls both hielting devices, Fig. 15 shows in full lines the?" osi tion of both shutter and. lock lever; and' 1n dotted lines the position'of` trip lever and' finger when the latter is resting onthe body oi'the` shutter209 of the charged controller. The point of the lock lever 21 is then clear of the cam 51.* and the socket 20b in the shutter lever 20` is inA line with hole 1c of meter base permitting entry of meter pin 19. When levers `20 and 21 are thus dis osed the clutch not shown) which drives sliaft 3* will function and the gears will be revolved at cach operation of the die, and the meter will register each operation of the die. When however the controller is discharge y1-he trip finger 23 will enter the opening l in the controller case andengage' the opening 209l of the shutter 209; andthe resultant movement of the trip lever-23 will through the aforesaid com ncctions cause both locklever 21 and shutter. lever 20 to take the positions. shown in dot and dash lines Fig. 15. point of lock lever 21 will be engaged with cam Vtiland prevent further revolution of the gears 5.1, and the'soclqet 20b in lever 20. will he held4 out of register with hole 1, and the meter pin 19 will therefore be At .this time the lio.

prevented 'from entering; said hole, (sec The closing ot lliclilile'l by the fsliut- -i ter lever 20'is sullicicnt to prevent further effective functioning of. the register, but as las an additional.precaution against accidental sticking of shutter lcvcr 20, or it-sfailnirel t0 close the'hole 1, the lock lever 21 -is g .Aso that a' turnfo i a' turn of .spindle 12 and vice versa. The

eiser manners com Q provided'toletectuall 4lock the gears, and prevent revolutinto the. die- The loeksjust described provide only for the locking of the die when-the'magazine is discharged, but it is also 'necessary to lock the die when no controller is in place to' regulatejftheposition o'f the trip linger. Itris alsdnecessary to provide means to 'secure the/controller inV place in theV l meter during its operation..v To meet this 'requirementa systelnof levers is introduced see 15 and 16 governed only'by the coaptingwcontroller and meter locks215 anc y13.- 'l A A eam131(Fi g. 4) is secured tothe plug 1310 lock 13 in the space between plates 9 and T10. Twoy pins 13cv secured to cam .13". engage twoy holes in spur lgear v14 and cause the gear to be rot-ated with it. GearA .Y A 14 is loosely mounted on a stud 14", se-

cured to; plate 10;A Spur gear 15 meshing" withfgear l'ffis ypinned. to keys'pindle v12 -t-he'f'plug 13el will cause '25 shape of earn- 13b is shown in dotted lines Ain Figa. 'v

"is arranged beside Athe 'cam anch-guided by a Abar 17 and strap 18.attaehed to the plate;

9 (see 2, 3 and 4). u vBy properly turn ing the earn 13" bar 16 canqberaised or lowered. .Two stops 16", machined on bar 16 one on either side of tooth space 16A' S5 when engaged with the' cireularpart of cam 13hv will serve to hold the bar 16 in either its up or down position. 'The bar 16 passes througl an opening inthe base 1 intov the `hollow ttom of the meter where it is connected with the' system of locking levers shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 16 a casting 32 is secured to the under ,side of the meter. base 1 and in this casting is journaled a 4.5A spindle A28,150 the opposite ends of which are tirmly'se'cured the levers 27- and 29;.

Lever 23 (Figsa 151'and l'16). is bent near its free end` and engages a rectangularl slot 16, in thelower end of the sliding bar 16 g' 59 and when said bai" 16 is shifted up ordown, the lever-129', spindle 28, and lever 2T will be osilla'ted.

An auxiliaryr loekingulever 26 is pivoted on the Stud` 2l, beside-the lock lever 21',

and is adapted to engage a cam 5l on gear: 51 in the same manner as lock .lever 21. en-A gages cam 51,. and for the, saine purpose, namely, to prevent revolving ot' the gears.

. A link 25, is pivoted at one end to lever'l 76h26 by the pinva, vits other end 25a, is

'\ hooked to engage av pin 22, on the trip lever arm 22, (see Figs. 3, 15 and 16).I .This link 25 is provided with a. slot 25 which is engaged on the free end oi the lever 27. 65. The arrangement ot' these levers is such v'seat 7.

l'and the auxiliary lock lever 26 disengaged from the cam 51"; when the link 25 is in the .position shown in Fig. 15 there is enough clearance between the pin 22, and the hook 25., to allow the"pin 22c suliicient travel to 4shift the lever 2L, to its"dot and dash position. 4

.lVhen sliding bar 16 is in the up position the link. 25 will be shifted to the position shown in Fig. 16and its hook 25 engage pin 22`and rock the arm 22, and its .other end rock the auxiliary lock lever4 26 into engagement with the cam 51b on' gear "51, .thereby locking the train of Gears. Such rocking of arm. 22 will through the connecting link 24 move the lock level-'21- further from "engagement with ycam. 51, and also move the shutter lever 2O to head to the opposite side of the hole 1 tov that f justas effectual as theother in locking theI Cam-13 hasa. tooth 13t adaptedto engage, tooth space 16l in slidable 'bar .16 which register however as' the hole 1 will still be'elosed, and-.although lever 21 isout of n .engagementw'i-th earn 51L the .auxiliary lock lever 26 is engaged with cam 51b and locks the gear'\`51. movement of the arm 22 by the link.v also ausesfthe trip finger." 23 t-0`b entirely withdrawn from the con. i

.tr`oller seat 7, leaving the passage clear for the witlfdravval of the controller. (The `three positions of the trip finger 23" are 'indicated by. dotted lines in Fig. 3.)

Locking the controller 'in place.

has a gear toothed sector 29a (see Figs. 2,-

3 and' 1.6)- engaging one of a rtrain of segments 30 (Fig. 2) the last of which en-A 'gages rack teeth 311 cutgin the lower end of bolt 31, so .that the bolt 31 is raised or 10W- ered by the oscillation of bolt 29. The boss 2a extends through a hole in the meter base 1, and the bolt 31 projects through a smaller hole in the bot-tom of the magazine 'lhe lever 29 and gears 30 are so arranged that the bolt 31 will be projected through. the -controller socket member 7 and into a hole 200c (Figs. 9, 10 and 11) inAvthe controller ease 200, when the'sliding bar 1 .6-vis lowered and all levers are in the position shown in Fig. 15, in eitherdot and dash or full lines. vWhen bar 16 is in the `filip position the bolt 31 will be withdrawn from theu controller and a'll levers will vbe in. the position shown 1n Flg. 16.

The locking of the meter by the arrangement of the levers shown in Flg. 15 is conlso ses

trolled entirely by the bar 16 which. is

the lock 13 can he turned hv turning either one or both of Athe knobs 21S), 219, which will also turn lock 215 in the controller. At

` all other times when .a controllfr is not placed in thesoeket'andioekeil in position2 the meter locking levrsarein the positions shown in Fig. 16, with the trip linger :23"-

and bolt .8l withdrawn from the controller socket.

To .prevent the die. being turned in a reversed directioua pawl 33 actuated .by a spring .33 .is provided to engage three 5l", as sho'wn in Figs. 15 and 16.-"`

Placing control-Jer.

j The controller is positioned inthe machine as follows-The s mallerend ofthe controll'er is entered liuto the socket and the controller'pushed in as far as it will go. l'n so doing the loekljs carried to'enter the hole 200" in the case 200l (Fig. llzandvthe earri'er pins 1l* will engage two of the-holes 208c in the driving'disk 208 of the controller, and key 112 will enter keyhole in plug 2151 'lhekeys of both locks 215 and 13 beingin place, both 'may be turned by-turning the knobs 219, 2lflfouthe front side of the mag-l 5 azine. Sueh turning of the knobs will release the charging mechanism in the conf troller by withdrawing har 215e out of engagement with4 the slot in the disk 208g` and moving the sliding bar 16 to its down position: and by reason ot the. colmecting levers just described. the holt 3l will -he moved into engagement. with the. hole 200 in the controller case. thus securing the controller in place; and at the same timeithe trip linger 23* is released as that it will try to enter the. magazine through the` hole 2001;

also the auxiliar-)flock lever 2li is withdrawn from contact with cam 5l", and lock lever 21 and shutter lever 20 are pern'iitted to take the discharge of the controller.

The disk 20:? is shown detached in Fig. 20. which shows the radial slots in the disk and t1 rivets fastening it to spur gear 205; thisdisk also appears in section iin Fig. 21;

t armrests com which is a section through the dust guard and housing for lock' 13. "lhe parts shown in Fig. 2l are shown in different positions in Fig. 18. 'lhecontroller is shown in section as in place in the meterlin Fig. 18, 'andl this ligure shows the 'co-acling locks 215 and i3 with their keys in place: also the connection between gear l-l and cam ifi". It is iurpossible to show how vain lilh is secured to plug 13 in this sert-ion (Fig. '19) but Fig. lil .shows how carrier 212 is fastened to plug 212.and this fastening is identical with the fastening of (fain 13b to lil and also carrier 21.5 and'lz'.

Fig. 2l is a section through the charging mechanism showing the drive ll pins 1l* engaging disk 20S. the. bar 214 engaging- -eam 210 and slot 205 otetlisk 20:?. the pins 210 engaging the carrier plate 212" of lock 212. and bolt`2l5c engaging a slot indisk :fortis an open slot as shown in Fig'. the wall of the ease 200 forming the other side. The arrangement of the loffks as shown in' seetionalriew Fig. li'. but in said ligure the plugs are part ly turned in order to show monI clearly in the related Fig. 1N. The plugs being geared together should he turned in opposite directions.v but tor the purpose i :208. The slot for bai- 214 in frame plate 'i of illustration, were drawn as shown in Fig. 9.5

17. The frame plate 204- is eut away to allow the passage of) the telescoping dust guard 223.

.The reason the frame plates 204". 2 04,

appear to hein'ibedded in the case 200 in m0 Fig. (l, is because the case 200 only. is in scction. and the frame lying in frontot' the plane of the section is projeeted `over the .sec- -tioned part of the case. 'l`h'e screws 201E lying beyond the plane of the. section are conseqnentl shown in dotted lines only.

I [i1 general. Of the two counters in the meter the one .marked 34, Figs. 1- and 3, sdesigned-to 110,

register the total output of the meter. It is of the geared type, and inaecessihle'. It will register 9.999.909 and clear to zero upon reaching 10.000.000.when it will start over again. The other counter. 3&5. is what is known as a set back counter that is, it may becleared to zero at an \-.time during its count. by' inserting a key through au opening 2 in 'the meter case 2 for that pnrpose. ll is introduced to'enabh the user lo rendi!)a prepare his statement of mail. when the meter is used in a postage meter machine'.

The number of points in the disks 205: 2052; 2053; isthe radix or root. and the number of disks in the series is the exponent of the-power to which the root is raised. In the drawings Iliave shown three disks 205. 20?. and 203h which must be. moved before movementis communicated to disk 205". It

there are nine mints it will be 93 or 729. 130

BEST AVNLABLE CP'? If there are eight points it will be 8, or 512. Preferably I use the number 1U as'a root, but the possibility of using other root numbers illustrates the distinction between the 5' controller device and the .ordinary consecutocontroller. Each'controller of a given de:

,tive'numbering device..

vIt; will be seen that in this invention the locking,r and controlling mechanism is contained in a removableinaccessible case vor mnnimition will have .a key' that unlocks only the meters ofl corresponding, de: omination; this will enable the Post. Otlice Depart.- ment to collect in advance the proper aniount of money for=a given montier of impressionsof a.. ar-x tain. denomination, otherwise it might be iossible to have a' `2controller chargedatt e.pos t..olice,andbrigit back to the users officev and' insert itin a. meter` having:r anengraved die of higher value, and

, thereby defraud the Government. AThe removable controllers, being smaller-u1 size and less expensive to manufacture than the metersas shown in ,my said patent will Yilake it possible for afuscr to purchase larger 'quantities of postage with a feeling of4 greater security as 'the controllers can be Areadily put awa) -for safe keeping in less space in the safe at night than ,might other-'- It would also be possible with a controller of this kind ito build the meter iu the inachiue, land .it is not neccssary to have the Aiueters detachable; as provided iu my'said patent. Tn other words thc machines-could be mnstrueted'with either a single socket.'

or a plurality ofsockcts to accommmlate controllers of different denon'ninations, tltat would register an amount corresponding with the value of .thin'ipressions of a number ot' different; dies euch controlled by its related controller.

When used in postage meter machines each controller will preferably haven serial Inlinher. the same as a watch. revolver, ctc., for the purpose of record and identification, and also another number indicating its capacity: andalso another number indicating the denomination of the meteror machine. with which it is to be used, so as ,to insure paymeut ot' the postage.A

The controller having no internal nurnhe'ring mechanism,- reouires no windowsfor sight reading, and in that; respect-somewhat resemble. acartridge orv fuse plug with hidden mcchanisn'i designed, through .proper gearing, to'ccase functioning after la, certain ,position to make connection..

proper amount ol' money forv number of revolutions have been effected, at which time, a small aperture is opened to permit the' entry of the lock-lever trip withm the meter. 'l`he cont-roller is also` so shaped and dcsignedso that. it must be in- .serted iu the proper socket and in proper The provision of a necessarily operated key4 wit-hin thc controller precludes the possihilty of oper ating the meter or machine after the controller has been' removed therefrom. .ln fact the controller cannot be removed williour tirst turning,r the key, as above explained and the turning of such key closes the shutter inthe meier that controls the 'action of the so-called meter pin, the t'rcc movement of which releases lne clutch that operates the die. The same result is ell'ected as above explained when the controller has been exhausted, in which event the action as above described is automatic.

ln prior machines the controlling mechanism is in reality actuated by the numbering wheels themselves, bur in this invention the controller contains no montan-ing mechanism, but merely so much clock-work, and

an essentially different proposition.`

l `urthermore the controlli-r is not. a meter tor there-is no wav of determining from viewing the controller alone, how man)l operations have been eti'ected or how many yet remains heforevit ceases to function. lt is vtherefore not'zr'meter or measuring device,

but simply a controlling device sepan-'ate and removableirm the meter or machine which lfm contains the registers that indicate vthe amount of' postage used and amount vel remaining to be4 used, ou last. purchase.

ln -the controller shown l lnlve'provided a series of geared disks, Acach actuated same as a geared counter, buttlhadisksmed have no 'numerals or other turks ou their pcripheries as in the cage ot' ciTuntf-.r wheels, neither it. essential that tinl division.s he

,e ies divisional: but ou the contrary they could li" he divided into any other number as hereinbefore stated. ln the latter eventi. the total would not. necessarily he a. multiple' of l0, the basic of our present decimal s 'st'enx. but

would he iunuiltiples of the radix oll the H5 frvstem chosen say is'. t). etc.. and it, is not they can know is that, each controller may be set at its capacity and that when the Wfl A machinehas completed the related number otoperations it. will automaticallv release the locking mechanisms within the meterror machine;- l

The meter as shown has two registers visible, throu h smallV glass windows in the,

.top of the; ousing. )ne of these counter runs up to 10,000,900 beforeautoinaticaliy represents the grand total. to datenanI clearing to zero. The other is a set-hack counter and also operates in an ascending series, and ls'mt'ended-merelyas a contenu "ence for theoperator in k eping count of operation a 20 i chines 'ofl thisl eanr'rninig @lemagliette the number offpieees of ea i batch of mail passed through theniacliinegoi in eac! i. iays mailingjrr in' airy-giran periodin order to keep an faee'urafei 'd "tlie fof";an d itean be turned lac by. ginning ot eilguinnex'ifcount.;1.

^ By noting 'and keeping recor ofwhat In a machine ofthe character specified, having a. print-ing mrclianlsm, means for registering the operation ol l-he. printing mechanism, means for lockingA the printingr mechanism and the registeringr meehanism;

a .removable controller adapted to he placed in the machine. or removed therefrom. and means whereby when the controller is inserted in the machine the aforesaid lot-hing |neans-'\\'ill he rendered inolnratire. -and when the. controller is remoreil from the-nia- :fhine said mechanism is rendered operatire f. inlnechanisni as set forth in claim 5, xnglpansin the controller \'.'hereb the nnmlu-i' M el'eriire operations ot' the machine is the meter'reads'mwlien aiset controllerv'is f; ii'1xiit l. msertedm theimaclnne.{C woiuld-notnbea# "i". In mechanism as ser forth in' cla'nn 5,

diliicult1n`1ati'A 'to iat.'zxln'fftiinlz how manyff' iir-iirnissiia and inf-sami 'iding. of, the; .meterfifrin o illd be readily determined how man)- piecesfwere niai1ed ,.at a time. .In otherwoidsther' noliecessity, with ma f ,tpe gte 'halve,` a .descendi-inir counter "tof Qndic'ate how nriiny impression niaylbe used if The total counter will indicate at al1 'times how many operationshate-heen performed with that meter, or mahine regardless of how mannseparate.controllersv may have been "-u'sedf'inf, connection therewith and shouldalways 'coriespondwith the total' additioirs"oij' jcapacities ofthe various controllets-used and veliausted inthat'meter or nac'hine'.' These: iimttersri arel mentioned .inerely to show that `the,socallad eontpller is not a meterbut provides an ent-imlbfnew method l. I*`or .a machine of the character Aspecitied having.;` a meter..'a. remorable eontroller adapted to be placed in the meter or removed thf.4v -`lrom'fand means wheijeby when'. thecontroller-is inserted in thefnieter the hitter w'df be rendered operative," and -when the controller is removed fronj the nieter'it is i rendered inoperative..

ln'meehanism as set-*forth in 'claim 1, means in the'eontroller whereby the number of ell'ective operationsfffifjthe machine is limited. ./f

Il. ln mechanism as-'ff'iet forth in claim l, means'in the controller whereby' when such eontrollelgsis in the machine a certain number of operations may he performed by the machine.. y` i.. A

4. In mechanism as set. Forth in claim l, means in the controller whereby when such controller is in the machine a eert-ain immber of operations may be performed h v the ma'ehine.,and when gsnch number of opera- 'tions is performed furthe-r effective operations of the maehine-is prevented until the controller' is removed, reset and replaced.

neans inf't-he controller hereby when such controllen is in the machine a' certain num-A .her of operations may he performed thereby. S.' 1n mechanlsi'n as set' torti: 1n claim ",means in the controller when-ln when such controller is in the machine a eertaiirnnmber of operations maybe performed l| the machine and when such numlaeiof operations is performed further e'eelire operations of the printing: and re; fi;-:tcriu ;r mechanisms is prevented until the controller is removed. and reset.

9. Ina. machine of the character'specilied,

havin; r a printing mechanism. means for op`- eratingf such n'iechanism. a regfnserin;r meehanism. m :ans for operatingV the. registeringmechanism oncefr ea-"h operation of the printing ihechanism. and in am for locking tl1e printin; r mechanism: a removableicontroiler' adapted to be placed in the machine or ren'io'ved therefrom, and means in said eontrolle-r wherelrv when il is inserted in the machine the 'aforesaid locking meanswill he rendered inoperative and when the controller is removed from the machine said locking means is. rendered operative. snbstain tially as described.V

10. In mechanism as set forth in claim 9, means in the controller whereby the"number of effective operations of the. machine is limited.

1l. Inniechanism as set forth in claim 9, means in the controller`wherehv when .such controller is in the machine a Certain number of operations nia be performed thereby.

12. in mechanism as set l'ortlx in claim S),4

means ii: the controller whereby when such controller is in the machine a certain nmulier of operations may he perinrn'nd h v themarhine. and when such number of opera`- lions have been performed l'nrtln-r eli'eclive operations of the. printing' and registering". mechanismsis prevented nntilthe controller printer; with a removable controller adapted to"be placed in the. machine 'or removed therefrom, and means whereby when the con- 5 troller is inserted in'themachinethedatter VAlL/BLE COPE wherebv when the'controller is inserted in -the socket the said locking dcvices'will be.

rendered inoperative. and when the control? ler 1s removed from the machine they-ere will be rendered operative and when the uwaiendered operative.

troller is removed from the machine it is rendered inoperative.

1 4. In iiiechanisin as sei forthinclaiin 13,

means in the controller whereby the mnnber o l' effective operations of the machine limited.

15. In mechanism set forth in.v claim 13,

means in the controller whereby when such 5 controller is in the machine a certain ninnbei' of operations may be perfomed by the.

machine.

16. In mechanism as set forth in claim 1?. means in the controller wherebvwhen snch controller is in the machine a certain number of operations ma)v be performed b v .the machine.. and when such number of operations` the printing. mechanism. a vree'isterimclr mechv anism. a socket. and gearing: between the printing and registering mechanism where-I b v the register is operated for each operation ol the printer; with a removable .controller adapted to beplaeed in the said socket or removed therefrom,- and means whereby when the controller is inserted in the socket 'the printing and' registering mechanisms .will be rendered operative and when the controller is removed from themachne they arerendei'ed inoperative.

40 ttl. In mechanism as set forth in claim 17,

means in the controller whereb)7 the number' ol` effective operations of the machine limited.

19. In mechanism as set forth in claim 17,

means in the controller whereby when such controller is in the machine a certain mimber of operations may be performed by the machine.

2t). In mechanism as set forth in claim 17,

'50 means in the controller wherebiy when snch controller is in the machine a certain number of operations ma)y be performed b v the niachine, and when such number of operations is Aiiertormed farther effective operation of the machine is prevented until the controller between the printingr and registering: mecha'- nism whereby the register is operated for each opcratign of the. printer. and devices for locking the printing mechanism and the meter registeringlr mechanism; with a removable controller adapted to be placed in the 22. In mechanism'as ser forth in claim 21'..v

means in lthe controller 'whereinv the number of effective operations of the machine is limited.'

:23. ln mechanism as set forth in cla'inizi.

Y means in the controller whereby when such controller is inthesocket a-certain number vof operations ma)v he performed by the machine.4

l24. In mechanism as set forth in claim 13, means in the controller whereby when such controller is inthe socket a certain number of operations may be Aperformed b v the ma- 'chi1ie, and when such number of operations isperformed further effective operation of the machine is prevented until the controller is removed, reset, and replaced.

In a machine of the character'specitiert. a printer, a coi'itroller socketin the machine. a lock in said socket. a' key` in the socket beside said lock, gearingr between the lock and the kev: a rotatable member in said socket adjacent the lock and key, andgearing whereby said member is driven in unison with the printer; with ,a controller adaptedV to be inserted in said socket oi' removed therefrom; means carried b v the controller adapted to engage said key; a key carried by said controller adapted to engage the said lock when -the controller is inserted in the socket; setting devices in said controller. means adapted to engage the said vrotatable member so that the disk setting devices are operated thereb i 7 when the controller is inserted in the socket; and means in said controller whereby when the printer has madeI a pre-'determined number oi" operations said devices will be locked. e

26. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 25. means wherebywhen the said devices are locked the 'printer and theregister are rendered inoperative.

2T. In combination with mechanism as vset forth in claim 25. means whereb)v when the controller is removed from the, machine the printer and the register are rendered inopeiat ive.

2S. ln combination wit-h mechanism as set socket adjacent the locleand key, and gear.;

' ing whereby said member is driven in .unison with lheprinter; with a controlleradapted- Ito lm inserted in said'4 socket or ien'ioved thi-refrein: a keveai'riedby said"controller4 'adapted to engage the said-'lock when the 5 controller is insertedh in the socket: setting f .devices in the controller:` means `carriedby l vices are operated" thereb \y when the -`conf troller is inserted in j tli'e 's`ocltet, 'means for. locking the said 'devices wller'ilth'e controller the controller adapted to eiigage'fthe said" rotatable member vso that the setting deis removed from the machine; anda-second lock controllin saidlocking means adaptedA 'to be engaged y the keyin the socket'when 'printer has made a pre-determined number of operations said: devices'will locked.

3l.' In eombiatio'nfwitli' mechanism asset forth in elaim 29 meanswherebywhen the said devices 'aref loclted-the p'rinter andfthe 32.*' In combination' wiV mechanism as set forth in claim 29'1`n`eansfwhereby when the controller is removed from themachin'e the printer and -the register are dered in-l operative." -V 'if l 33. In combination with? mechanism' as set forth in claim 29 means whereby when the said devices are locked the printer `and 'the register are rendered -inoperative; and'v means Y wherebyr4 when -`the controller' isV removed from the machine -the'printer and register are rendered ino 'i 34. In a machine of the character speci# v 4u rative;

fied. a. printer, a register, means for loc ing said printer and said registeri a lock controlling said means. a. key adjacent said lock. gearing between the loek'shaft and the. key shaft: a. rohitahle member." and gearing wht-.wlw said member is driven in 'unison with the. register and printer: with a conlrol ler adapted to bo inserted `in or removed from the machine; a key carried by said controller adapted to engage the. said lock when the controller is inserted in the machine: devices adapted to bc operated by the said rotatable member when -the. controller is inserted in the machine, and a second locltcontrolling said devices adapted lo be engaged b v the keywhen the controller is inserted in the mac-bine; and means in said controller wheiclrv when the` printer has made :i prc-delermincd number of operations said devices will become.. locked.

IJi. lin combination with inecbai'iisni :is selV forth in claim lfl. means whereby when the said devices are loched the. printer and che register are rendifercyl inoperative.

2G. :In combination with mechanism as set forth iii claim 5H meansavlicreby when the BST AVAlLABLE CCDPE -ontrollcr is removed lrom the machine the printer sind (he register are rem'lered inopcrativc.A

"37,' ln combinaion with mechanism as set fortlriii claim 3% moans whereby when the said devices are locked the.prinl.er and the register are ren'dered inoperative and means whereby when .the controller is removed from the machine the printer and the register are Y rendered inoperative.

38. In a machine ot the character specilied. 'a printer. a. register, means for locking Ytrolling said means, a key .adjacent said lock, gearing betweenthe' lock shaft and the key shaft, a rota-table member,v andgearing whereby said member is driven in unison with the register and printer: with a controller adapted to 4he inserted iin or removed from the machineaa' key` carried bysaid contr ller adapted to engage the said'loek wheinth'e controller is inserted in the inalsaid'printer and said register, a lock conchine; a'series of inter-related disks in said vcontroller adapted to be'operated bythe said rotatable 'member when the. controller is in.-A Sorted in the machine and a lock controlling said dislts'adapted tobe engaged by the key.l in the socket when the controller is inserted.-

in the machine: and means in said controller whereby when lthe printer has made a pre determined nnmber of operations said disks will'become locked.

39. Tn combination with mechanism as set foithin -claim `38 `means whereby when the l.disks are loelteli'the printer and the. register are rendered inoperative.

In combination with mechanism as -set forth in claim 38 means whereby when thecontroller is removed from the machine the printer and the register are rendered inoperative.

4 1. In combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 38 means wherebr when the disks are locked the printer and the register are rendered inoperative and means whereby' when thecontrollcr is removed from the machine. the printer and the register are 'rendered inoperative.

. 42. ln. combination with mechanism as set forth in claim 38. means controlled by said locking devices whereb)v when the disks in the, controller are locked the printer and register will be rendered inoperative until the controller is removed, reset and replaced in the n'iachine.

43. ln combination with mechanism as set Forth in claim 38, means whereby when the. controller is removed from the machine the printer and the register are. locked. and

means controlled` by said loc-king meansl lll) 

